Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust
As specified in the charitable trust document, the organization supports seven named 501(c)(3) organizations by making annual distributions from the restricted endowment fund provided by the grantor.
Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust gave $295K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $42K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $294,557
- +7.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $42,080
- +7.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $35,347
- Total assets
- $6,191,221
- +5.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Prince of Peace Lutheran Church ($82K). Together the top 7 received $295K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 21 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $258K (2023) to $295K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $295K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Freeport, IL | Support Payment | $82,475 |
| Freeport Parks Foundation Freeport, IL | Support Payment | $35,347 |
| Friends Forever Humane Society Freeport, IL | Support Payment | $35,347 |
| FHN Foundation Freeport, IL | Support Payment | $35,347 |
| Freeport Public Library Foundation Freeport, IL | Support Payment | $35,347 |
| Amity Society of Freeport Inc Freeport, IL | Support Payment | $35,347 |
| Stephenson County Historical Society Freeport, IL | Support Payment | $35,347 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,191,221 | $91,832 | $356,428 | $294,557 | 7 | $91,832 |
| 2024 | $5,873,141 | $165,886 | $374,211 | $273,983 | 7 | $165,870 |
| 2023 | $5,456,205 | $151,762 | $306,653 | $257,515 | 7 | $132,894 |
| 2022 | $5,135,212 | $5,377,462 | $17,528 | — | — | $-6,944 |
About Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust
Based on IRS filings
Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust is a public charity, based in Freeport, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $295K. Net investment income was $92K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust's only listed officer is Cheryl Lessman, Assistant Vice President on every filing since 2022 (uncompensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cheryl Lessman
Assistant Vice President
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust
How much does Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust give each year?
Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust gave $295K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $274K across 7 grants.
What is Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $35,347, and its average grant was $42,080, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust give grants?
Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Freeport, IL (7 grants).
Does Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Payment" (7 grants).
Who are Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Prince of Peace Lutheran Church ($82,475), Freeport Parks Foundation ($35,347) and Friends Forever Humane Society ($35,347), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust?
Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust reported $6.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $92K.
What is Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust's EIN?
Gerald K Meier Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-7343724. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
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